Safety device for a hanging ceiling

ABSTRACT

A safety device for preventing injury caused by the sharp cut ends of wire such as the wire used in suspended ceilings. The safety device is formed of a polymer material which can be a plenum rated material and includes a tubular section, the bore of which is open at one end and closed at the other end. The safety device also includes one or more wire gripping jaws, formed integrally with the tubular section, which project from the tubular section along its length. When using this safety device with a suspended ceiling, the sharp free end of the twisted wire is inserted into the open end of the tubular section which causes the one or more gripping jaws to grip the portion of the suspension wire that is extending down from the original ceiling. A relatively light pressure is applied to the device which causes the gripping jaws to open sufficiently to receive and grip the wire. Once the wire has been fully seated in the gripping jaws, the jaws will close around the wire, gripping the wire to secure the device in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to suspended ceilings, and more particularly pertains to a safety device that can be used when installing a suspended ceiling.

[0002] Suspended ceilings are an attractive and economical way to finish a room and to conceal flaws in the existing ceiling or unattractive fixtures such as pipes or conduits. The support structure for suspended ceilings systems are constructed from lightweight pliable material such as sheet metal or extruded or injection molded plastic. Home builders and home remodelers have a large selection of tiles and kits to choose from.

[0003] When installing a suspended ceiling, wall angles are first secured around the periphery of the room at the level desired for the ceiling. The type of fasteners used to secure the wall angles to the walls will depend upon the wall construction. A grid work of inverted T-shaped channels and inverted cross-T's must then be suspended from a support structure, for example, the original ceiling and the wall angles on which the ceiling tiles are placed. The channels can span considerable distances and must be supported along their lengths to prevent the ceiling from sagging. Various hanger devices have been developed for supporting the channels from the existing ceiling. The most frequently used being the system shown in FIG. 1, which has been designated PRIOR ART, which involves placing a row of threaded screws with and eyelets in the existing ceiling immediately above where a channel is required. One end 3 of a flexible wire is then inserted through each eyelet and then bent back on itself and twisted. The other end 4 of the wire is then inserted through pre-formed holds or slots 5 in the channel 6 and bent back on its self and twisted. Care must be taken that the flexible wire is bent back at the point where the channel will be at the desired elevation.

[0004] However, there is a disadvantage to this type of suspension system. When the suspension wires are cut to length there is left a sharp and dangerous cut end on the wire. These sharp cut ends present the largest hazard at the lower end where the wire is connected to the channels. The ceiling installers must continue to work in this area to complete the installation of the suspension system and to place the ceiling tiles in place on the suspension system. In placing the ceiling tiles, the installer's vision is often obstructed by the ceiling tile being installed, thus increasing the vulnerability of being cut by the sharp cut ends of the wire.

[0005] A suspended ceiling creates a plenum between the original ceiling and the suspended ceiling which in many commercial buildings is used as the return air plenum for the air conditioning system and also as a plenum through which communication cables are run. This use of the plenum created by suspended ceilings has created a concern regarding fire hazards and toxic fumes that could be produced in the event of a fire. This concern for communication cables is addressed in the National Electrical Code by requiring that communications cables for use in plenums pass a stringent flame and smoke evaluation standard. Communication cable for use in plenums must meet the requirements of the Underwriter's Laboratory Standard 910, which is a Test Method for Fire and Smoke Characteristics of Cable Used in Air-Handling Spaces. Materials meeting these requirements are called Plenum Rated Materials. Examples of such premium insulating materials are for example, fluorinated ethylenepropylene (FEP), ethylene trifluorochloroethylene, or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Since applicants safety device could be used in plenum created in commercial buildings by a suspended ceiling applicant will provide an embodiment of his protective device that will be made of Plenum Rated Material so as to not create a fire or toxic fume hazard.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention introduces a safety device that is simple to apply and which is placed over the cut ends of the wire as each wire is installed. This safety device does not require any special installation tools or skills and can be used by both professional installers and do-it-yourself home remodelers. The safety device is made of a plastic materials some of which qualify as Plenum Rated Material. These material are light in weight and are relatively inexpensive considering the small amount of material used for each protective device. However, Plenum Rated Materials are more expensive than other plastic materials that do not qualify as Plenum Rated Material.

[0007] The device of the present invention includes a tubular section that is open at one end and closed at the other and one or more wire gripping jaws, formed integral with the tubular section, that project from the tubular section along its length. The free end of the twisted wire is inserted into the open end of the tubular section and the one or more gripping jaws are caused to grip the portion of the suspension wire that is extending down from the original ceiling. A relatively light pressure is applied to the device that causes the gripping jaws to open sufficiently to receive the wire. Once the wire has been fully seated in the gripping jaws, the jaw will close around the wire, thus gripping the wire to secure the device in place.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1, which is designated PRIOR ART, is a perspective view of a section of suspended ceiling channel that is supported by wires having exposed sharp cut ends.

[0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of suspended ceiling channel that is supported by wires having the safety device of this invention installed.

[0010]FIG. 3 is a cross section view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-section view, similar to FIG. 3, of a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In FIG. 2, the vertically extending portion of an inverted T-shaped ceiling channel 10, having a series of holes or apertures 12 formed along its length, is shown suspended from a ceiling by wires 14 that have been threaded through one of the holes 12 and then twisted. Applicant has used flexible wire that is {fraction (5/32)} of an inch in diameter in his application of this invention, but it should be understood that wires of other diameters can be used. For example, if a safety device is desired for a wire having a specific predetermined diameter, then the bore in the tubular section must be of a size to receive the wire of the predetermined diameter, and the diameter of the bore in the gripping jaw tubular section should be equal to or smaller than said predetermined diameter. Also, a perspective view of the protective device 20 on this invention is shown in FIG. 2. This protective device 20 could be formed from non plenum rated material or plenum rated material as a unitary device. The protective device 20 can also be cast as a single piece, or fabricated by securing the separate sections of the device together. Regardless of how applicant's device is fabricated it can be formed from either non plenum rated material or from plenum rated material. The protective device 20 includes an elongated tubular portion 22 having a bore 24, an open end 26 and a closed end 28. The illustrated protective device has two gripper jaws, each designated 30, which can be secured to the elongated tubular portion 22, and the gripper jaws 30 can be cast as an integral unit. The gripper jaws 30 are formed as short gripping jaw tubular sections having longitudinally extending slots 32 formed therein. The longitudinally extending slots 32 extend from the outer surface of gripper jaw tubular sections to its bore.

[0013] The bore 24 formed in the elongated tubular portion 22 should be slightly larger than the flexible wire being used. For example, if wire having a diameter of {fraction (5/32)} of an inch is being used, the diameter of the bore 24 should be about {fraction (3/16)} of an inch.

[0014] The bore in the tubular members used to form the gripper jaws 30 should be the same size or slightly smaller than the wire being used.

[0015] After a wire 14 has been threaded through a hole 14 in the channel 10, it is bent back and twisted around itself leaving a cut end. The cut end of wire 14 is inserted into the bore 24 of the elongated tubular portion 22 and the upwardly extending portion of wire 14 is placed in the slots 32 formed in the gripper jaws 30. The wire 14 is held with one hand while a pressure is applied to the protective device 20, thus causing the jaws of the gripping jaws 30 to open and wire 14 to be located in the bore of the gripper jaws 30. The resilience of the gripper jaws causes them to grip the wire 14 that has been forced into the bore and thus secure the protective device 20 in place. When the protective device 20 is used as illustrated in FIG. 2, the engagement of the cut end of the wire 14 with the closed end of the bore 24 prevents downward movement of the protective device.

[0016] The foregoing specification describes only preferred embodiments of the invention as shown. Other embodiments in addition to the ones described above may be articulated as well. The terms and expressions therefore serve only to describe the invention by example only and not to limit the invention. It is expected that others skilled in the art may perceive differences which, while differing from the foregoing, do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention herein described and claimed. 

1. A suspended ceiling system comprising: a support structure from which the suspended ceiling will suspend; a grid of inverted T-shaped channels on which ceiling tiles are supported; suspension wires secured to the support structure and extending down to the grid of inverted T-shaped channels and terminal cut ends; apertures formed in the vertically extending portion of said inverted T-shaped channels; the terminal cut ends of said suspension wires extending through the apertures formed in the T-shaped channels and being bent back and twisted around these same wires such that the cut ends are exposed; safety devices having an elongated bore formed therein that is adapted to receive the exposed cut ends of the suspension wires; and attaching mechanism for attaching the safety devices to the suspension wire above its twisted portion.
 2. A suspended ceiling system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: said safety devices being formed of a plenum rated material.
 3. A suspended ceiling system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising: said attaching mechanisms being in the form of resilient gripping jaws that that will open when the jaws are held against the wire and a force is applied.
 4. A suspended ceiling system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said safety device comprises a unitary device including: an elongated tubular section having an open end and a closed end, the bore of the tubular section being of a size to receive the exposed cut ends of said suspension wires; a gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said gripping jaw tubular section being equal to or smaller than the diameter of said suspension wire, said gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than the diameter of said suspension wire.
 5. A suspended ceiling system as set forth in claim 4 further comprising: said safety devices being formed of a plenum rated material.
 6. An improved apparatus for hanging suspended ceiling structures from an overhead ceiling comprising: a suspension wire formed of flexible wire and having a terminal cut end; the terminal cut end of said suspension wire being bent back and twisted around itself such that the cut end is exposed; a safety device having an elongated bore formed therein that is adapted to receive the exposed cut end of the suspension wire; and attaching mechanism for attaching the safety devices to the suspension wire above the twisted portion.
 7. An improved apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further comprising: said safety devices being formed of a polymer material.
 8. An improved apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further comprising: said attaching mechanisms being in the form of resilient gripping jaws that that will open when the jaws are held against the wire and a force is applied.
 9. An improved apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said safety device comprises a unitary device including: an elongated tubular section having an open end and a closed end, the bore of the tubular section being of a size to receive the a wire having a diameter of about {fraction (5/32)} of an inch; a gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said gripping jaw gripping jaw tubular section being equal to or smaller than about {fraction (5/32)} of an inch, said gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than {fraction (5/32)} of an inch.
 10. An improved apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further comprising: said safety devices being formed of a plenum rated material.
 11. A method for the installation of suspended ceilings employing an improved safety device for protecting the installer from injury caused by the sharp ends of cut suspension wires comprising the steps of: providing a channel for a suspended ceiling that has been suspended by a wire that has been connected to the channel, bent back and twisted around itself such that the cut end of the wire is exposed; providing a protective device having an elongated bore formed therein; inserting the exposed cut end of the wire into said elongated bore formed in the protective device; securing the protective device to the wire at a location above the twist in the wire.
 12. A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in claim 11 wherein the method includes the additional step of: providing a closed bottom in the elongated bore formed in the protective device.
 13. A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in clam 11 wherein the method includes the following additional step: providing the protective device with a gripping jaw that will function to secure the protective device to the wire at a location above the twist in the wire.
 14. A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in claim 11 wherein the method includes the following additional step: providing the protective device with a pair of gripping jaws that will function to secure the protective device to the wire at a location above the twist in the wire.
 15. A method for the installation of suspended ceilings as set forth in claim 11 wherein: the protective device that is provided is formed of a plenum rated material.
 16. A safety device for protecting against injury by the sharp cut ends of wires comprising a unitary device including: an elongated tubular section having an open end and a closed end, the bore of the tubular section being of a size to receive a wire having a predetermined diameter; a gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said gripping jaw tubular section being equal to or smaller than said predetermined dimension, said gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than said predetermined dimension. 17 A safety device for protecting against injury as set forth in claim 16 further comprising: said unitary device being formed of a plenum rated material.
 18. A safety device for protection against injury by the sharp cut ends of wires as set forth in claim 16 and further comprising: a second gripping jaw secured to said elongated tubular section, said second gripping jaw including a gripping jaw tubular section, the bore of said second gripping jaw being equal to or smaller than said given dimension, said second gripping jaw tubular section having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein extending from its outer surface to its bore, said slot having a minimum width that is less than said predetermined dimension.
 19. A safety device for protecting against injury as set forth in claim 18 further comprising: said unitary device being formed of a plenum rated material. 